Homecoming BEYond Fashion

FASHION

Homecoming

(BEY)OND FASHION

BY BRITTANY SWEARINGEN

As The absolute worst part about watching Beyoncé’s homecoming was my roommate’s presence that required me to stifle my squeals of pure joy. Every time Beyoncé smacked her own ass, I could swear that five years were added to my life expectancy!

The film immediately enthralled me with her presence in an Egyptian inspired cape and headpiece, decked out to the maximum by designer Olivier Rousteing from Balmain. The costume was designed in the image of Queen Nefertiti - a nod to the often-overlooked African roots of African Americans. And, let me just say this: Each outfit was impeccably custom-designed with a message at its soul, with every color carefully selected, and every crest specially created to saturate this performance with artistry.

The effect was well worth it. The main theme of this performance centralized on emulating the experience of a historically Black college or university (HBCU), an experience most of us will not have and are dramatically unfamiliar with. Beyoncé, with the help of Balmain, created her own sorority in her clothes and her own history with graphics that translated into a truly encapsulating vision.

I won’t bother discussing further the details behind the design process, only because O Magazine did it better than I. But, in all honesty, my critical cap went out the window the moment Queen Bey came on stage with those iconic silver fringe boots. In place of description, I’ll simply state that the result of this collaboration between designer and artist seems the perfect example of excellence achieved through sublime vision and intense dedication.

I must admit I watched this film not on the release date, but in late May. As many may know, Pride Month was then approaching. The idea of pride itself had been and continues to be on my mind frequently, and I’m not sure there have been many moments in my life filled with pride as there were watching Beyoncé perform with an all-black cast at Coachella via my computer. My tender heart was not prepared for the cascade of emotion that only grew in ferocity as each surprise guest appeared.

I found myself simultaneously rooting for Jay-Z, seeing myself in Bey’s young dancers and musicians, fathoming the physical trauma of giving birth, and feeling exhausted by this insane performance, as this unexpected introspection into Beyoncé’s life took me on her own emotional journey. And, as displaced as I may sometimes feel in this world, the feelings of delight and joy that Beyoncé gave me through this creative experience could never be revoked or damaged. For those glorious 137 minutes, I was stable, confident, and proud in my identity. For 137 minutes, I felt like I attended this HBCU with Beyoncé and the dozen or so others on stage with her, and we were all family.

For 137 minutes, nothing else was important, as I lived in the realm of this documentary - and that is no small feat accomplished by a directorial debut. And, I hope to see more masterpieces from this astonishing woman in years to come, as well as from the brilliant designers collaborating with her.

Brittany Swearingen is a Sophmore at KU studying strategic communication in the Journalism School. She is pursuing a career in fashion, while working as a Team Leader at Urban Outfitters.

Brittany Swearingen is a freshman at KU studying strategic communication in the Journalism School. She is pursuing a career in fashion, while working as a Team Leader at Urban Outfitters.